Well, it's official... we are on the count down to Christmas. And if you're like me, that means it's time to start making lists! There's so much to do. oy. So today, instead of tackling my long list, I decided to make some cute printable lists for myself...and you :) It's called procrastination.

So for your over abundance of inevitable Christmas lists that will be made over the next weeks... I present to you these...ta da! I'm putting mine in my planner... and on my desk... and on the fridge... and on my bathroom mirror. ha.

So does it irk you that I'm posting Christmas stuff already? Or does it get you excited? I hope it makes you feel all giddy inside, but I'm very well aware of the fact that it might make you feel overwhelmed and behind before you've even begun.

Here's how I know: 5 years ago, I felt nothing but disdain for the Christmas season. That sounds horrible, I know, but it's true. In fact, the awareness that I was supposed to love Christmas, especially as a follower of Christ, only served as added fuel to the emotional disaster that the season was for me.

At that point in my life, I had a grumpy 9 month old and 3 young girls. I was chin deep in toys, laundry, stress, sleeplessness, freelance design work, and homeschooling. I routinely went through cycles of moderate depression and intense physical fatigue. So from this place, all I could see were the added responsibilities and expectations of the Christmas season. I remember talking with a mentor of mine and guiltily admitting that I dreaded this time of year. She asked how she could help and I found myself gushing a desperate plea to be relieved of having to make Christmas cut-out cookies with my girls. This was one of the things they were looking forward to the most and the very thought of the mess and chaos it would bring nearly triggered a panic attack in me. She just smiled and said why don't you let the girls come over here and make cookies this year.

It seems funny now :) But that's just where I was at... everything overwhelmed me.

That stage lasted for a few years. Then last year as the end of October rolled around I realized that I was actually looking forward to the upcoming holiday season! As if I was suddenly freed from a dreadful curse, I felt light and happy anticipating all that Christmas would bring. My stage of life had shifted and the heaviness of that season was no longer so oppressive.

So if any piece of that resembles how you feel going into this Christmas season, I'm sorry...I remember the feeling so well and hurt with you. Or maybe it runs even deeper for you. Maybe you're experiencing loss or deep pain and Christmas is only going to intensify the reality of this. Whether your situation is quite mild or all consuming, the answers are still the same.

Find someone to confide in and to help bear the weight of where you're at. And if you don't have anyone, email me! We were never meant to do this life alone. The enemy of our souls wants to isolate us. He wants to mess with your mind and make your think things are hopeless. But in Christ, and in the fellowship of believers we are never alone and we always have hope.

And most importantly, if you have to let everything else go... cling tightly to one thing. Spend time each day in God's word and in prayer. It doesn't have to be a lot, but pursue the only thing that has power to bring you out of darkness and into light and freedom. It doesn't mean that as soon as you open up your Bible, everything will change. But as you seek to know Christ more in this way, it will give you strength to endure and you'll find comfort from his presence. After all, that's what Christmas is celebrating... Jesus coming near... so we could know Him and find life in Him. Nothing else really matters. Not even Christmas cut-out cookies :)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

"Let us strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land." Hosea 6:3

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

So if it doesn't overwhelm you, :) .....and if it helps you get excited for this season of our Savior coming near... I have these printable Merry Mail sticker for you!

Just print on sticker paper (I like Avery full sheet labels) and cut with a scissor... or if you have a Silhouette or other cutting device, just pop the jpeg into the design program to make your own kiss-cut stickers! fun. fun. :)

Back in the day, one of my favorite things about blogging was taking pictures of my home! I love to decorate and I enjoy photography, so naturally combining the two to show you all is a blast!

My oldest daughter, Alice, was snooping around this blog the other day and stumbled upon the "home tour" button. She came to me and with an observation... "Mom, your blog is really out of date! You need to show some pictures of how our home actually looks now." Yes, Alice...wise child... you are correct. :) So the most obvious place to start, for me, is my work space! It's kind of home base for me during my days at home. My work space is what technically should be the formal dining room, so it's very centrally located in our home. I hang out there responding to emails, keeping up with my Etsy stuff, designing and drawing, working on my planners, etc. The bigger kids come to me for school work help or questions, the littles come begging for snacks or tattling on each other :) But they always know the first place to look for mom is in her office/work space.

So without further delay... I present to you my happy place... my work space!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year for several reasons. Some of them being... my birthday is in fall, I started dating my husband in fall, and I got engaged in fall!... if those reasons aren't enough, then there's all the standard reasons too. It's colorful, crisp, and opens up a season of holidays! What's not to love!?

In addition to loving fall, I also happen to really adore cute critters...especially drawing them! :)

So that leads me to the free printable..you knew I would get there eventually :) I've combined two of my favorite things: fall & woodland critters! And I've turned them into some super cute list inserts.

I've recently jumped on board the planner craze and am finding that is suits me quite well! I love creating fun little extras to add some charm to my planner. And these lists do just that. Not to mention, they're functional! I just punch holes along the edge and insert them straight into my planner. But you could use them independently as well, of course.

And to be honest, it was a relief to have one less thing on my to-do list. It was hard to step away, but necessary. And looking back now I realize exactly how necessary it was. I was in a transition phase of my life without even knowing it. And I needed time to make that hard transition...

When I began my blog seven plus years ago, I was a different person. I had three little girls, one of which was a baby! I was a creative stay-at-home mama who wanted an outlet for photography, spiritual growth, family, and beauty. I was constantly taking pictures of my growing babies, relaying their energy draining antics and the spiritual refinement that was taking place as a result!

But over the years, my babies got big (gulp), my camera was set aside and replaced by my Wacom drawing tablet, and all of my energy went into homeschooling my growing kiddos, running two Etsy shops, and daily supporting my husband in his role as lead pastor at our church.

But I realized something the other day... while I a have changed, the need to express my heart to somebody remains. I realized that my blog followers from years past were perhaps the ones who knew me best. You see, I'm a homebody who's also an introvert. My days are spent with my kiddos, and my evenings with my husband. I daily share on Instagram, but not my heart.

So I'd like to reclaim this spot to share with you...whoever you are! I may not have cute baby pictures or stories of rogue toddlers trying to break into the neighbors car... but there's plenty to share. I'm still a wife and mama desperately clinging to the hope of Christ. I'm still in need of fellowship, friendship, and encouragement...just like you. And I've still got good stories to tell :) ...just not about babies.... (ahem...Lucy... the craziest kiddo of them all).

And of course, I won't be able to resist sharing my creative side as well! ...I'm sure there will be some free printables along the way :)

So on that note, I will leave you with a few catch up photos of my life over the past months!

My hubs, Jeremy...a.k.a the bearded pastor... built me this desk over the summer. Can you say, "spoiled much!?"

Lucy has humbled me as a mom in ways that V wasn't even capable of! She is more...in every way...in all the good ways and all the hard ways. She. Is. More.

V (Virgil) grew curls...just like the rest of them!

Lucy and V act like an old married couple :)

Sadie loves to dress up :)

Elsie loves to read..to anyone that will listen!

Alice is so grown-up! She is nearly as tall as me and wears the same size shoe...yikes.

Alice is 12, Elsie, is 9.5, Sadie is almost 8, V is 5.5, and Lucy is a spunky 3.5!